Solar cell and method of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A solar cell includes a solar cell substrate including a principal surface on which a p-type surface and an n-type surface are exposed, a p-side electrode formed on the p-type surface and including a first linear portion linearly extending in a first direction, and an n-side electrode formed on the n-type surface and including a second linear portion linearly extending in the first direction and arranged next to the first linear portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Corners of a tip end of at least one of the first and second linear portions are formed in a chamfered shape.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2011/068543, filed on Aug. 16, 2011, entitled “SOLAR CELL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME”, which claims priority based on Article 8 of Patent Cooperation Treaty from prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2010-187407, filed on Aug. 24, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This disclosure relates to a back contact solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, solar cells have been drawing much attention as an energy source placing only a small load on the environment. For this reason, more and more research and development has been undertaken on solar cells. In particular, an important issue is how to improve conversion efficiency of solar cells. Hence, the research and development has been made especially actively for solar cells having improved conversion efficiency and methods of manufacturing such solar cells.

As a solar cell with high conversion efficiency, Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-200267), for example, proposes a so-called back contact solar cell with a p-type region and an n-type region formed on a back surface side of the solar cell. In this back contact solar cell, electrodes for collecting carriers do not necessarily need to be provided on a light-receiving surface. Accordingly, light-reception efficiency can be improved in a back contact solar cell, whereby improved conversion efficiency can be achieved.

Note that the solar cell described in Document 1has a comb-teeth shaped electrode formed on each of the p-type region and on the n-type region. In Document 1, as methods of forming the electrodes, a method of applying a conductive paste and a sputtering method are described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As the method of forming the electrodes, a plating method can be used as an option other than the method using the conductive paste or the sputtering method as described above. However, when the electrodes are formed in the plating method, there is a problem that it is difficult to sufficiently improve conversion efficiency of the solar cell.

An embodiment of the invention is made in view of this point, and aims to improve conversion efficiency of a back contact solar cell.

A first aspect of the invention is a solar cell. The solar cell includes a solar cell substrate, a p-side electrode, and an n-side electrode. The solar cell substrate has a principal surface on which a p-type surface and an n-type surface are exposed. The p-side electrode includes a first linear portion. The first linear portion is formed on the p-type surface. The first linear portion extends in a first direction. The n-side electrode includes a second linear portion. The second linear portion is formed on the n-type surface so as to extend in the first direction. The second linear portion is arranged next to the first linear portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Corners of a tip end of at least one of the first and second linear portions are formed in a round shape.

A second aspect of the invention is a method of manufacturing a solar cell. The solar cell includes: a solar cell substrate including a principal surface on which a p-type surface and an n-type surface are exposed; a p-side electrode formed on the p-type surface and including a first linear portion extending in a first direction; and an n-side electrode formed on the n-type surface so as to extend in the first direction and including a second linear portion arranged next to the first linear portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, corners of a tip end of at least one of the first and second linear portions being formed in a round shape. The method includes: obtaining a linear portion whose corners of tip end are formed in a round shape from among the first and second linear portions, by forming an electroplated coating on a seed layer which is provided on the p-type or n-type surface and whose corners of tip end are formed in a round shape.

According to the aspects of the invention, conversion efficiency of a back contact solar cell can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of a solar cell of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a simplified cross-section taken along a line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a simplified cross-section taken along a line III-III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged simplified plan view of a portion IV of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged simplified plan view of a portion V of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a simplified plan view of a solar cell of a comparative example. In the comparative example shown in FIG. 6, members having functions substantially common to the first embodiment are assigned common reference numerals.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged simplified plan view of a portion taken along a line VII-VII of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a simplified cross-section of a solar cell of a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a simplified plan view of a solar cell of a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention are described by using solar cell 1 shown in FIG. 1 as an example. Note, however, that solar cell 1 is only an example. The invention is not limited to solar cell 1 in any way.

In the drawings referenced in the embodiments and the like, members having substantially the same functions are assigned the same reference numerals. The drawings referenced in the embodiments and the like are schematic. Dimensional ratios and the like of objects depicted in the drawings may differ from actual dimensional ratios and the like of the objects. The dimensional ratios and the like may also differ among the drawings. Concrete dimensional ratios and the like of the objects should be determined in consideration of the following description.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, solar cell 1 includes solar cell substrate 10. Solar cell substrate 10 has back surface 10 a as a first principal surface, and light-receiving surface 10 b as a second principal surface. Back surface 10 a of solar cell substrate 10 includes a surface of p-type region 10 a 1 and a surface of n-type region 10 a 2.

More specifically, in the first embodiment, solar cell substrate 10 includes semiconductor substrate 15, n-type semiconductor layer 14 n, and p-type semiconductor layer 14 p.

Semiconductor substrate 15 generates carriers by receiving light on its principal surface on a light-receiving surface side. Here, carriers refer to holes and electrons generated when light is absorbed by semiconductor substrate 15. Semiconductor substrate 15 is formed of a crystalline semiconductor substrate of n-type or p-type conductivity. Specific examples of the crystalline semiconductor substrate include crystalline silicon substrates such as a single-crystal silicon substrate and a polycrystalline silicon substrate, for example. Hereinbelow, the first embodiment describes an example in which semiconductor substrate 15 is formed of an n-type single-crystal silicon substrate.

N-type semiconductor layer 14 n and p-type semiconductor layer 14 p are formed on the principal surface of semiconductor substrate 15 on a back surface side. N-type semiconductor layer 14 n forms n-type region 10 a 2, and p-type semiconductor layer 14 p forms p-type region 10 a 1.

Each of n-type semiconductor layer 14 n and p-type semiconductor layer 14 p is formed in a comb-teeth shape. N-type semiconductor layer 14 n and p-type semiconductor layer 14 p are formed to interdigitate each other. Thus, p-type region 10 a 1 and n-type region 10 a 2 are formed in comb-teeth shapes which are inserted between each other.

N-type semiconductor layer 14 n is formed of an n-type amorphous semiconductor layer formed on the principal surface of semiconductor substrate 15 on the back surface side. Meanwhile, p-type semiconductor layer 14 p is formed of a p-type amorphous semiconductor layer formed on the principal surface of semiconductor substrate 15 on the back surface side. Note that an i-type amorphous semiconductor layer may be interposed between semiconductor substrate 15 and n-type amorphous semiconductor layer 14 n, as well as between semiconductor substrate 15 and p-type amorphous semiconductor layer 14 p. In this case, the i-type amorphous semiconductor layer may be formed of an i-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon layer having a thickness which virtually does not contribute to power generation, for example.

The p-type amorphous semiconductor layer is a semiconductor layer of p-type conductivity, to which a p-type dopant is added. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the p-type amorphous semiconductor layer is made of a p-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon. Meanwhile, the n-type amorphous semiconductor layer is a semiconductor layer of n-type conductivity, to which an n-type dopant is added. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the n-type amorphous semiconductor layer is made of an n-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon. Note that although the thickness of each of the p-type and n-type amorphous semiconductor layers is not particularly limited, it may be about 20 angstroms to 500 angstroms, for example.

N-side electrode 11 collecting electrons and p-side electrode 12 collecting holes are formed on back surface 10 a of solar cell substrate 10. N-side electrode 11 is formed on a surface of n-type semiconductor layer 14 n. To be specific, n-side electrode 11 is formed on an n-type surface of n-type region 10 a 2. N-side electrode 11 includes fingers 11 a as linear portions and bus bar 11 b. Each of fingers 11 a linearly extends in a first direction y. Fingers 11 a are arranged in parallel at certain intervals in a second direction x orthogonal to the first direction y. Bus bar 11 b is arranged on one end side (y1 side) of fingers 11 a. Bus bar 11 b is formed to extend in the direction x. A y1-side end of each of fingers 11 a is connected to bus bar 11 b.

P-side electrode 12 is formed on p-type semiconductor layer 14 p. To be specific, p-side electrode 12 is formed on a p-type surface of p-type region 10 a 1. P-side electrode 12 includes fingers 12 a as linear portions and bus bar 12 b. Each of fingers 12 a linearly extends in the direction y. Fingers 12 a and the aforementioned fingers 11 a are arranged alternately at certain intervals in the direction x. In other words, finger 12 a is arranged next to finger 11 a in the direction x. Bus bar 12 b is arranged on the other end side (y2 side) of fingers 12 a. Bus bar 12 b is formed to linearly extend in the direction x. A y2-side end of each of fingers 12 a is connected to bus bar 12 b. In addition, bus bar 12 b faces tip ends 11 a 1 of fingers 11 a in the direction y, whereas bus bar 11 b faces tip ends 12 a 1 of fingers 12 a in the direction y.

In the first embodiment, corners of at least one of tip ends 11 a 1 of fingers 11 a and tip ends 12 a 1 of fingers 12 a are formed in a chamfered shape, or more preferably, in a round shape. Specifically, the corners of both tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 of fingers 11 a, 12 a are formed in a chamfered shape, or more preferably in a round shape. To be more precise, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, radiuses of curvature r1, r2 of corners of both tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 of fingers 11 a, 12 a are set to be ½ of widths W1, W2 of fingers 11 a, 12 a. Accordingly, both tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 of fingers 11 a, 12 a are formed in a semicircular shape.

Moreover, each of corners formed in connection portions between bus bars 11 b, 12 b and fingers 11 a, 12 a is formed in a chamfered shape, i.e., a shape in which sides are not orthogonal to each other, or more preferably, formed in a round shape. Specifically, portions 11 b 1, 12 b 1 of bus bar 11 b, 12 b facing tip ends 12 a 1, 11 a 1 of fingers 12 a, 11 a are formed in shapes corresponding to the shapes of tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 of fingers 11 a, 12 a, i.e., in a semicircular shape.

Furthermore, other corners 11 b 2, 12 b 2, 11 b 3, 12 b 3 of bus bar 11 b, 12 b shown in FIG. 1 are also formed in a round shape. That is, in the first embodiment, all corners of n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 are formed in a round shape.

Next, a method of manufacturing solar cell 1 is described.

First, solar cell substrate 10 is prepared. The method of manufacturing solar cell substrate 10 is not particularly limited, and solar cell 10 may be formed according to a known method, for example. To be specific, solar cell substrate 10 can be manufactured by forming n-type semiconductor layer 14 n and p-type semiconductor layer 14 p on semiconductor substrate 15 according to a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method, for example. Note that although patterns of n-type semiconductor layer 14 n and p-type semiconductor layer 14 p are not particularly limited, it is preferable that n-type semiconductor layer 14 n and p-type semiconductor layer 14 p have patterns in which corners of tip ends are formed in a round shape in correspondence with the patterns of n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12. With this configuration, carriers can be collected efficiently from n-type semiconductor layer 14 n and p-type semiconductor layer 14 p to n-side electrode 11 or p-side electrode 12.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 are formed. At first, seed layer 17 having the same flat shape as n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 of the aforementioned shapes is formed on n-type semiconductor layer 14 n and p-type semiconductor layer 14 p. In other words, formed is a seed layer 17 whose corners including those at the tip ends are formed in a round shape.

Seed layer 17 is not particularly limited as long as plating can be performed thereon. Seed layer 17 preferably has a surface layer made of Cu, Sn and the like. To be specific, it is preferable that seed layer 17 is formed of a multilayer including a TCO (Transparent Conductive Oxide) layer formed of a conductive oxide such as indium oxide, and a metal layer made of metal such as Cu, Sn and the like or an alloy containing one or more of these types of metal. The method of forming seed layer 17 is not particularly limited. Seed layer 17 may be formed by a CVD method, a sputtering method, or a deposition method, for example. The thickness of seed layer 17 is not particularly limited. The thickness of seed layer 17 may be about 100 nm to 500 nm, for example.

Next, electroplated coating 18 made of Cu, Sn and the like is formed by an electroplating method, for example, on seed layer 17. Thus, n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 formed of a multilayer including seed layer 17 and electroplated coating 18 can be formed.

The thickness of the electroplated coating formed by the electroplating method is correlated to the field intensity applied at the time of performing the electroplating. The higher the field intensity applied to the part to be electroplated, the thicker electroplated coating 18 becomes. For this reason, if the applied field intensity differs among portions within the part to be electroplated, the thickness varies within the electroplated coating. Specifically, the electroplated coating at a portion to which high field intensity is applied becomes thicker than the electroplated coating at a portion to which low field intensity is applied.

Here, assume a case as in solar cell 100 of a comparative example shown in FIG. 6 where corners of n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 are not formed in a round shape but are sharp, for example. In this case, lines of electric force concentrate in the corners of n-side electrode 11 and the corners of p-side electrode 12, and an electric field of high field intensity is applied thereto. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, a ratio (t₄/t₃) of thickness t₄ at peripheral portions of n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 to thickness t₃ at center portions thereof becomes extremely large. Accordingly, the peripheral portions of n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 are formed to project sharply, and their strengths are lowered. Hence, at least one of tip end 11 a 1 of finger 11 a and tip end 12 a 1 of finger 12 a is deformed, so that finger 11 a and finger 12 a may come into contact with each other and cause a short circuit. Occurrence of a short circuit between finger 11 a and finger 12 a lowers conversion efficiency of solar cell 100.

By enlarging the distance between n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12, it is possible to avoid the short circuit between finger 11 a and finger 12 a. However, in this case, holes being minority carriers are likely to recombine and disappear before reaching p-side electrode 12. Thus, conversion efficiency of the solar cell is lowered.

On the other hand, in the first embodiment, tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 of fingers 11 a, 12 a are formed in a round shape. With this, it is possible to avoid concentration of lines of electric force to peripheral portions of tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 3, the difference in thicknesses of center portions of tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 and the peripheral portions thereof can be reduced. More specifically, a ratio (t₂/t₁) of thickness t₁ at the center portions of tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 to thickness t₂ at the peripheral portions thereof can be reduced. Moreover, in the first embodiment, corners at the connection portions between fingers 11 a, 12 a and bus bars 11 b, 12 b are also formed in a round shape. Hence, the thicknesses at peripheral portions of the corners at the connection portions between fingers 11 a, 12 a and bus bars 11 b, 12 b can also be reduced. Particularly in the first embodiment, tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 of fingers 11 a, 12 a are formed in a semicircular shape and portions 11 b 1, 12 b 1 of bus bars 11 b, 12 b facing tip ends 12 a 1, 11 a 1 of fingers 12 a, 11 a are formed in a semicircular shape. With this, the thicknesses at peripheral portions of tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 and portions 11 b 1, 12 b 1 can be reduced. As a result, conversion efficiency of solar cell 1 is less likely to be lowered due to occurrence of a short circuit between n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 attributable to deformation of the peripheral portions of n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12. Accordingly, the space between fingers 11 a and fingers 12 a can also be reduced. Hence, it is possible to avoid recombination and disappearance of holes being minority carriers, whereby high conversion efficiency can be achieved.

In addition, since it is possible to reduce the thicknesses of the peripheral portions of n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12, it is possible to avoid a poor appearance where a color tone at the peripheral portions differ from that at the center portions.

Moreover, variation in electrical resistivity of n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 can be reduced. Hence, it is possible to avoid concentration of electric fields of n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 in a specific part at the time of power generation.

Note that the effects described above are those achievable when the corners of tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 and of portions 11 b 1, 12 b 1 are formed in a round shape. Note that in order to obtain a more preferable effect, radiuses of curvature of the corners of tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 and of portions 11 b 1, 12 b 1 are preferably within a range of 1 to ½ of widths of fingers 11 a, 12 a, or more preferably within a range of ¾ to ½ thereof. Additionally, radiuses of curvature of the corners of tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 and of portions 11 b 1, 12 b 1 are preferably set such that a ratio of the thickness of electroplated coating 18 at the center portion to the thickness of the electroplated coating at the peripheral portion is 1.2 or smaller, or more preferably set such that the ratio is 1 or smaller.

Hereinafter, a description is given of other examples of preferred embodiments of the invention. Note that in the following description of the embodiments, members having functions substantially common to the first embodiment are referred to as having the common function, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 8 is a simplified cross-section of a solar cell of a second embodiment.

The first embodiment describes an example in which solar cell substrate 10 is formed of semiconductor substrate 15, n-type semiconductor layer 14 n, and p-type semiconductor layer 14 p. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, solar cell substrate 10 maybe formed of an n-type crystalline semiconductor substrate 15 including a first principal surface in which n⁺ type thermal diffusion area 15 n and p-type thermal diffusion area 15 p are formed. An n-type dopant is thermally diffused in n+ type thermal diffusion area 15 n, and a p-type dopant is thermally diffused in p-type thermal diffusion area 15 p.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a simplified plan view of a solar cell of a third embodiment.

The first embodiment describes an example in which n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 are respectively formed of fingers 11 a, 12 a and bus bars 11 b, 12 b. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 may respectively be formed of fingers 11 a. 12 a with no bus bar provided thereto.

Other Modified Example

The first embodiment describes a case where all corners of n-side electrode 11 and p-side electrode 12 are formed in a round shape. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a configuration may be employed in which only corners of tip ends 11 a 1, 12 a 1 of fingers 11 a, 12 a are formed in a chamfered shape. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A solar cell comprising: a solar cell substrate including a p-type surface and an n-type surface formed on a principal surface side of the solar cell substrate; a p-side electrode formed on the p-type surface and including a first linear portion linearly extending in a first direction; and an n-side electrode formed on the n-type surface and including a second linear portion linearly extending in the first direction and arranged next to the first linear portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, such that corners of a tip end of at least one of the first and second linear portions are formed in a chamfered shape.
 2. The solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the corners of the tip ends of the first and second linear portions are formed in a round shape.
 3. The solar cell according to claim 2, wherein the tip end of at least one of the first and second linear portions is formed in a semicircular shape.
 4. The solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the p-side electrode further comprises a first bus bar to which the first linear portion is connected, the n-side electrode further comprises a second bus bar to which the second linear portion is connected, and corners of a connection portion between at least one of the first and second linear portions and the corresponding one of the first and second bus bars are formed in a round shape.
 5. The solar cell according to claim 4, wherein each of the first and second bus bars is arranged so as to face the corresponding one of the second and first linear portions in the first direction, and a portion of at least one of the first and second bus bars facing a tip end of the corresponding one of the second and first linear portions in the first direction is formed in a shape corresponding to the tip end.
 6. The solar cell according to claim 4, wherein corners of the first and second bus bars are formed in a round shape.
 7. The solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the p-type surface and the n-type surface have patterns corresponding to the p-side electrode and the n-side electrode, respectively.
 8. A method of manufacturing a solar cell including: a solar cell substrate including a p-type surface and an n-type surface formed on a principal surface side of the solar cell substrate; a p-side electrode formed on the p-type surface and including a first linear portion linearly extending in a first direction; and an n-side electrode formed on the n-type surface and including a second linear portion linearly extending in the first direction and arranged next to the first linear portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, corners of a tip end of at least one of the first and second linear portions being formed in a round shape, the method comprising obtaining the at least one of the first and second linear portions having the corners of the tip end formed in the round shape, by forming an electroplated coating on a seed layer provided on the p-type or n-type surface, the seed layer having corners of its tip end formed in a round shape.
 9. A method of manufacturing a solar cell comprises: forming a seed layer on a-type or n-type surface of a solar cell substrate such that corners of a tip end of the seed layer are formed in a round shape; and forming an electroplated coating on the seed layer, thereby forming an electrode on the-type or n-type surface whose tip end has corners formed in a round shape.
 10. The method of manufacturing a solar cell according to claim 9, wherein the electroplated coating is formed by electroplating.
 11. The method of manufacturing a solar cell according to claim 10, further comprises: forming a p-type amorphous semiconductor layer and an n-type amorphous semiconductor layer on a principal surface side of the solar cell substrate, wherein the seed layer is formed on the p-type amorphous semiconductor layer and the n-type amorphous semiconductor layer.
 12. The method of manufacturing a solar cell according to claim 11, further comprises: forming an i-type amorphous semiconductor layer on a principal surface side of the solar cell substrate, wherein at least one of the p-type amorphous semiconductor layer and the n-type amorphous semiconductor layer is formed on the i-type amorphous semiconductor layer.
 13. The solar cell according to claim 5, further comprising a p-type amorphous semiconductor layer in the p-type surface; an n-type amorphous semiconductor layer in the n-type surface; wherein the p-side electrode is formed on the p-type amorphous semiconductor layer and the n-side electrode is formed on the n-type amorphous semiconductor layer.
 14. The solar cell according to claim 13, further comprising i-type amorphous semiconductor layer on a principal surface side of the solar cell substrate; wherein at least one of the p-type amorphous semiconductor layer and the n-type amorphous semiconductor layer is formed on the i-type amorphous semiconductor layer. 